Role of Connexin 36 in Light-Sensing Cells Studied in Mice Without Rod or Cone Cells

Immunofluorescence indicating the presence of connexin 36 gap junctions increased by more than 20 fold in the outer plexiform layer of cone-only (rod-less) retina compared to wild type.

• Connexin 36 is associated with gap junctions that transmit visual information between rods and cones.
• In rod-less retinas, the increase in cone numbers correlates with a significant rise in connexin 36 immunofluorescence in the outer plexiform layer.
• In cone-less retinas, a reduction in cone numbers leads to a 30% decrease in immunofluorescence in the outer plexiform layer.
• Immunofluorescence in the inner plexiform layer was higher by 25-50% in both rod-less and cone-less retinas compared to wild type.
• The findings suggest that cones express connexin 36, but whether rods also express this protein remains unresolved.

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